Changes in T cell subpopulations in lead workers.
To investigate the effects of lead on the human immune system, we analyzed T cell subpopulations and B (CD19+) cells in peripheral blood in 71 male lead workers. They were engaged in manufacturing lead stearate in a chemical factory, aged 20 to 74 (mean 48) years. Their blood lead concentrations (PbB) were between 7 and 50 (mean 19) micrograms/dl. The control group consisted of 28 "healthy" male volunteers without a history of occupational exposure to lead or other hazardous substances, aged 33 to 67 (mean 55) years. In comparison with the controls, a significant reduction in the number of CD3+CD45RO+ (memory T) cells and a significant expansion in the percentage of CD8+ cells in the lead workers were found. There was a significant positive correlation between the percentage of CD3+CD45RA+ (naive T) cells and PbB in the lead workers. It is suggested that CD45RO+ memory T cells may be most susceptible to the effects of lead on T cell subpopulations.
Sata
F
F
Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Japan.
Araki
S
S
Tanigawa
T
T
Morita
Y
Y
Sakurai
S
S
Nakata
A
A
Katsuno
N
N
D000328:Adult; D002617:Chemical Industry; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects*
D007854:Lead